(June 30, 2005)

Corporal Uzi Peretz
was killed, and three other Israeli soldiers
were lightly wounded June 29, 2005, when Hezbollah fired mortar shells at the Har
Dov area, along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israeli Ambassador to the United
NationsDan
Gillerman submitted a complaint to the Security
Council regarding the escalating
violence on the northern border and, the
following day, the Council unanimously approved
a statement condemning Hezbollah for its
attack on Israel. The statement called on
the Lebanese government to implement its
authority in the south of the country in
the area bordering Israel and throughout
the boundaries of the state.

A special press release by the council’s
president reflects the spirit of its members’ opinions,
the result of agreements made in informal
meetings held by the parties. In the range
of responses utilized by the council, a press
release is one level before a presidential
declaration, which is considered more official.
The message was conveyed 24 hours after Israel
sent a letter of protest to the president
regarding incidents in the Har Dov area along
the Lebanese border.

Anne Patterson, the acting U.S. ambassador,
criticized the statement for not specifically
mentioning the September resolution
1559 and for not saying that Hezbollah started
the conflict. “It did not recognize
the fault of Hezbollah in attacking,” she
said. “The Lebanese armed forces need
to deploy into southern Lebanon as quickly
as possible and take control of their own
territory.”

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON BLUE LINE INCIDENTS

Following is the press statement delivered
today by Council President
Jean-Marc de La Sabliere (France):

The members of the Security Council received
a briefing from the Department
of Peacekeeping Operations on the last incidents
along the Blue Line.

They took note with interest of the statement
issued by the Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General for southern
Lebanon.

The members of the Security Council reiterate
their call on the Government
of Lebanon to extend its control over all of
its territory, including
through the deployment of Lebanese armed forces,
to exert its monopoly on
the use of force and to put an end to all attacks
emanating from its
territory.

In this context, they expressed serious
concerns at yesterday's attack and
the subsequent exchanges of fire between
Hezbollah and Israeli forces
yesterday and today.
Members of the Security Council urged all
parties to fully respect the Blue
Line, to refrain from violation of it and
to exercise restraint.